Apply for help arranging child maintenance

Use the Child Maintenance Service to set up a child maintenance arrangement if you and the other parent cannot agree to one yourselves.

If you are not the child's biological or adoptive parent, or your child is in local authority care, you need to contact the Child Maintenance Service (opens in a new tab).

Before you start

You'll need:

• your unique reference number - we sent this to you in an email or text message. If you do not have one, you can get one through Get Help Arranging Child Maintenance
• your National Insurance number
• an email address - you need to create an account to use this service
• information about the other parent

We will ask you for information about the other parent's:

• name
• date of birth or age
• National Insurance number
• phone number
• address or location

Your application is usually processed quicker if you or the other parent claim child benefit.

If you are worried about contacting the other parent

You do not need to have any direct contact with the other parent. The Child Maintenance Service will need to share some information with them, including:

• your name
• your child's name
• how often you tell us your child stays with the other parent - they will need to confirm this

If you will be paying child maintenance, we will also share:

• your income information
• whether any other children are included in the calculation (we will not share any of their personal information)

If you will be receiving child maintenance payments

We can give your payment details to the other parent if you ask us to. You can ask your bank or building society to set up an account that does not give away your location.

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